As the search for missing persons in the aftermath of a massive mudslide in Washington enters its second week, some searchers will be taking a much-needed break.

Rescue dogs, who have been essential in the search for victims of the mudslide that hit Oso, Wash., on March 22, will be getting some rest after working long hours in the cold and rain, rescue crews said Sunday. The dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked, officials said, according to the Associated Press.

“The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,” said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide.

Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation.

Late Saturday, authorities revised the number of people believed to be missing from 90 to 30, while the official death toll edged up to 21.

Below, a look at some of the search and rescue dogs at the site.

Rick Wilking/Reuters

Tryon the rescue dog waited to go through the decontamination area after searching for victims in Oso, Washington on Sunday.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Search dog Stratus jumped over debris last Tuesday.

Rick Wilking/Reuters

Rescue dog Nexus was cleaned after searching for victims Sunday.

Elaine Thompson/Press Pool

Rescue workers search with an unidentified search dog on Saturday.

Matt Mills McKnight/European Pressphoto Agency

Search and rescue member Joanne Varney, left, with dog mADDee, last Tuesday.

Washington National Guard, Spc. Matthew Sissel/Associated Press

An unidentified search dog waited to be washed after searching through debris last Thursday.

Comments (5 of 20)

I just wanted to say thank you so much for featuring these amazing handlers and dogs and showing the difficult work they do. That last photo by Matthew Sissel/Associated Press of the Brittany just made me want to cry... it's a great shot so congrats to him on a perfectly composed photograph. What, to me, seems like sadness in the dogs expression seems to perfectly capture the sense of sadness that surrounds this story.

2:33 pm April 4, 2014

Linda wrote:

I LOVE SEEING THESE GREAT DOGS RESCUE OR ATTEMPT TO WITH ALL THAT THEY HAVE! ONE THING THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED TOO! SO PLEASE PUT ON PROTECTIVE WEAR ON THESE DOGS ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR PAWS AND LEGS SO THEY DO NOT GET CUT UP AND COME DOWN WITH A LETHAL DISEASE! THEY NEED GOOD BOOTIES, SHIN GUARDS, MUZZLE PROTECTION SINCE THEY ARE SMELLING FOR SURVIVORS AND THOSE CRITCALLY INJURED! SO PLEASE PROTECT THESE DOGS GE THEM SOME BOOTIES ON!

1:56 pm April 4, 2014

Linda wrote:

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THESE DOGS WHO ARE WORKING THE MUD SLIDE TO HAVE SPECIAL BOOTS FOR THEIR FEET SO THEY DO NOT GET CUT UP. SEEING THESE ROCKS AND AND BOLDERS, GLASS, AND ALL THE HUGE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS THEIR POOR PAWS YOU KNOW CAN GET CUT UP, WHETHER A SHEPARD, OR GOLDEN RETRIEVER, IT DOES NOT MATTER. ANY AND ALL SIZE DOGS WORKING IN THIS 911 LIKE DEBRIS WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM BOOTIES AND ALSO SOME TYPE OF MASK TO PROTECT THEIR LITTLE VULNERABLE LUNGS! I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THINKING ABOUT THIS MESS AND HOW TO HANDLE IT WITH THE DOGS. SO WONDER, WHY DID I NOT PUT PROTECTIVE GEAR ON MY DOGS FOR A RESCUE SUCH AS THIS !!!!! PLEASE TAKE CARE AND I MEAN GODD CARE OF THESE ANIMALS, AND PLEASE DON'T GET LAZY JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A DOGS, BECAUSE AL DOGS ARE HUMAN!!!!!

12:49 pm April 4, 2014

Laura wrote:

Search dog Stratus's owner was found to be a phony and was removed from the mudslide area by law enforcement. Please stop giving this guy any publicity and focus on the legitimate, hard working SAR volunteers and their K9s. Sadly, these disasters bring out the crazies.

12:26 pm April 4, 2014

Lisa wrote:

The handlers and the dogs are incredible! The work is hard, long and depressing. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the humans and canines who do this job so selflessly for others.